That Rex Gotta Roar - Julia Mills Page 0,2

world but you? Hell, I take my coffee hot, black, and strong. I do not have time to fuck around with false flattery."

"Just like you take your men," I quickly interjected, hoping to derail the flood of compliments I knew was coming. It's not that I didn't appreciate what she was trying to do. It's that I wasn't good at accepting praise – of any kind from anyone. I was more comfortable with giving compliments. Actually, the best cheerleader the South ever birthed. Yep, I was really good - the best. But when the tables were turned, I usually just blushed, stammered, then ended up whispering, 'thank you,' before quickly changing the subject or shoving food in my mouth to end the awkward moment.

Unfortunately, on this occasion, I was too late to stop Cora. Not that I was ever truly quick enough to get ahead of her, but I refused to give up. This was a marathon, not a sprint. One day, I would win. I just knew it.

"What guy doesn't want a blond bombshell with curves in all the right places, big blue eyes, and a brain, who has a terrific sense of humor, is loyal to the bone, and isn't afraid to laugh at herself? Huh? I ask you who? Exactly! Not a damn one. You, Clementine Sue Cooper, are a catch."

“Okay, okay, ok…”

“Now, hush, I’m not finished,” Cora once again cut me off. (Have I mentioned that my mentor has little to no manners? Well, let me correct myself. She is the picture of perfect etiquette when negotiating contracts or schmoozing some editor out of a few extra pages and more than a few extra dollars for one of my spreads. The woman could get blood from a stone, but when it’s just the two of us, Cora is meaner than a junkyard dog, tougher than nails, and wouldn’t give me an inch to save either one of our lives.)

"Clem, seriously, if all that isn't good enough, just tell the stupid lug who the Goddess literally made to be the other half of your heart and soul that you are an honest to the Goddess Princess. You are, after all, Canary royalty. It doesn't matter that you left the nest and gave your title, crown, and throne to your goofy cousin. That shit is in your blood - the good shit, not the goofy stuff that birthed that silly-ass cousin of yours. I mean, really. I love Cathy Ann and her momma, Clara Belle, just as much as the next guy. But did your granny drop both of them on their heads? Do they share a brain? I've met your mom and your other aunties. Those women have their shit together. What the hell happened to Cathy and Clara?"

“Cora, really, you gotta stop dissin’ on my family. What if Granny heard…”

“She’d agree. I know that to be the Goddess honest truth because your grandma and I have had the conversation.”

"You did not?" I was mortified. Note, I didn't say shocked, just mortified. At this point, nothing Cora did surprised me.

“Yes, I did, and I’ll do it again should the need arise,” she brazenly confirmed. “Now, listen up, whop that dumb guy upside the head and tell him that he’s the one. Tell him that you two are meant to be together and get started making me an honorary Nona. Tell that man of yours that he can get in line and fly right, or you’ll jerk a knot in his tail. He does have a tail, right? That is to say, he is a Shifter? The Goddess of All didn’t go all nutso on you like she did my sister and give you a human?”

“No, She didn’t. Yes, he is,” I sighed, before quickly adding, “Coming right out with the mushy stuff like feelings and shit, that’s just not my style. I show people how I feel. I let my actions do the talkin’, ya’ get me?”

"No, it's not your style, and oh, I get you almost better than you get you, Clementine, my little love dove," Cora huffed. "But you have to admit, your style has you hanging out in the Swamp with your Flock, and not getting done what needs to be…HEY! Wait one feather-picking minute! That house, the haunted mansion, that's his isn't it?" Clapping her hands so loud that I swear the pigeons in Central Park and the Bats in the old church on Fountain and Main in Tallulu and all the little